November Star Clients Series with Executive Advisor Alex Castillo
In the world of consulting and strategic planning, where outcomes depend on a seamless exchange of expertise and insight, the strength of a partnership can determine the success of a project. It’s more than simply working together; it’s about aligning values, building trust, and actively contributing to each other’s success. Active partners bring open minds, prioritize organizational capacity, and approach every challenge with a collaborative mindset. This partnership ensures both sides benefit, creating outcomes that far exceed what could be achieved individually.
As we wrap up our series exploring the importance of the foundational relationship between a consultant and client, Executive Advisor Alex Castillo shares his insights on, “What makes a good client/partner?”
“Over the last several years I have worked mostly on strategic planning engagements with a variety of Los Angeles-based social impact organizations. As such, I’ve noticed that good client partners share many of the same qualities. For example, they are committed and engaged. The ideal client is willing to invest time and energy in co-creating the process, attending meetings, providing input, and participating in workshops. They’re open-minded, receptive to new ideas, and willing to challenge the status quo. They communicate their needs, expectations, and feedback clearly and effectively.
Additionally, these clients focus on and prioritize organizational capacity. They have strong leadership that is supportive of the strategic planning process and committed to operationalizing the plan. They are willing to allocate the necessary resources, including time, budget, and staff, to support the project.
Finally, having a collaborative partnership is clearly important to them. They foster a collaborative and respectful partnership based on trust and mutual understanding, and they are flexible – willing to adapt to changes and unexpected challenges.”
We recognize that successful partnerships are built on these very qualities, defining the relationships we value and driving success in every project.
Is this you? We invite you to get in touch to discuss new opportunities to create, contribute, and collaborate with leadership teams in the social impact sphere. We welcome any questions or inquiries you might have.ou might have.
Alex Castillo is a strategic advisor to CEOs and other senior leaders in the private, nonprofit, and public sectors. His three decades of experience in global consumer products, entertainment, and government allow him to leverage his overall general management and business strategy expertise to help these leaders think through how to strengthen their organizations, identify growth opportunities, and solve their most pressing challenges.
